EmulationStation vs OpenEmu
EmulationStation
emulationstation.org
OpenEmu
openemu.orgSide by side
| Figure | EmulationStation | OpenEmu |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | — | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 0 | 1 |
| Spec score · Game Library Managers | 7.1 (#29) | 8.1 (#8) |
| Spec score · Game launchers | 6.7 (#59) | 8.1 (#21) |
| Purpose | EmulationStation is a graphical, themeable front end that brings games from different emulators together in one place. | OpenEmu is open-source video game emulation software for Mac. |
| Support | The maker directs users to the GitHub issue tracker to report bugs or seek help. | The project directs users to read its contributing guide before reporting bugs through GitHub Issues or IRC. |
Plans
In their own words
EmulationStation
EmulationStation has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
OpenEmu
OpenEmu is free, open-source video game emulation software for macOS. It organizes game backups into a unified library, adds box art and supports collections spanning consoles. Users drag and drop backups for scanning and organization. Modular cores from open-source projects emulate systems including Atari, Game Boy, Nintendo, Sega, Sony PlayStation and Super Nintendo; the project lists 31 supported systems. Generic HID-compliant USB or Bluetooth controllers can work immediately, with automatic mapping for recognized devices. OpenEmu is intended for games users already own, and BIOS files are required. The wiki describes an experimental arcade core plugin that is strictly unsupported. The latest release page identifies OpenEmu 2.4.1 binaries as Intel-only. The official site offers a macOS (OS X) application, but the version requirement was not rendered. The project lists save states, CD audio and cheat support, while online netplay is not available.